Since October of 2018, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has been preparing to do its own part in the Paris Climate Change Agreement by pushing forth initiatives aimed at reducing emissions.

This includes developing a set of guidelines for a Ship Implementation Plan (SIP) so that logistics organisations and their respective vessels can make the transition to use low sulphur fuel.

All of the Shipping Lines are now implementing an IMO2020 Low Sulphur Surcharge effective in December 2019.

And in September of last year, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) announced its commitment to the transition and it is expected to implement its measures starting January 2020. These new measures will not only apply to the nation’s ships, but also fuel suppliers and refineries.

It is expected that, by that time, no Australian vessel in any point around the world is using or carrying fuel with sulphur content beyond 0/5 cent m/m.

More discussions were made earlier this year to hammer out certain issues that might serve as obstacles to implementation. Among them include:

• Sudden unavailability of non-compliant oil or fuel.
• Possible complications with machinery arising from using low sulphur fuels.
• Technical hurdles that can occur during transition.

Some of these issues have already been resolved, such as making exceptions for ships that carry exhaust gas cleaning systems or other IMO-certified alternatives.

AMSA, however, assures all stakeholders that will continue to communicate with all affected stakeholders both prior to the full implementation of this global regulation and any transition afterwards.